What Clothes I Packed for a Year of Traveling the World: Girl’s Edition

At the beginning of 2023 my partner and I embarked on just about the craziest journey we’d ever dreamt up. We took off to New Zealand to start our year long trip around the world. I can’t name all the packing videos I’ve watched of guys claiming they needed 2 shirts, 1 pair of underwear, and a half leg of shorts. It’s just not as realistic for girls to pack as light. We need some specific necessities. But alas: it can be done.  So, what does one pack for every temperature, every climate, every landscape, in every part of the entire world, AND fit it all into just a backpack? Here is a realistic list of clothing packing for girls traveling around the world.

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Starting with the basics: what to wear. My biggest piece of advice is to pack clothes that are comfortable and multi-functioning. Bring clothes you feel good in and want to wear. I tried to pick neutral and similar colors that all went together, so you’ll see a lot of blacks, grays, browns, blues, and greens. Do not try to force an outfit or a clothing item because you think you should. Athleisure is in! So be comfy, don’t force any high-fashion or alternative culture’s styles to try to “fit in.” Trust me, no matter what you do; everyone will still know you are a tourist and most likely be able to pin-point you as American.

On the flip side of this pack at least one “cute” outfit. Something you feel good in and can wear out to dinner, or the club, or for a fun night out on the town. This is an area where I slacked in only packing beachy sundresses, or t-shirts and leggings. I didn’t feel very cute when the other girls in our hostel were getting ready to go out on the town and looked super good and I had nothing to match. Everyone mostly backpacks and brings a small bag, so it’s not like they brought an excess of items either. Pack your hot LBD!

Shirts:

For shirts I opted for layering options, so t-shirts and mock necks as a base that could be layered up with jackets, raincoats, and thick winter coats during really cold weather. Mock necks are good to dress up for nicer event or down for more casual events. I also included one professional blouse since we planned to apply for jobs with our work-holiday visa in New Zealand.

My go-to shops: Target, REI, Kohl’s

• 4 mock neck t-shirts
• 3 athletic t-shirts
• 1 long-sleeve athletic shirt
• 1 nice blouse

Find similar items to mine on Amazon:

Pants:

As far as pants I am firmly dedicated to the legging style. I find they layer nicely in the very cold weather and warm are cool enough for warm weather. They protect from sun and bugs, and pair nicely to dress an outfit up or down. I have a pair of hiking pants as well, but honestly, I’m not too crazy about them. My pant collection is rounded up with a pair of khakis for more professional events and a pair of shorts for the beach and the pool!

My go-to shops: Fabletics, American Eagle, Target, REI

• 5 pairs of leggings
• 1 pair of hiking pants
• 1 pair of athletic shorts
• 1 pair of khakis

Find similar items to mine on Amazon:

Dresses & Rompers:

I added in a few old dresses and a romper for more aesthetically necessary occasions as well. The dresses were all hand-me-downs or over 7 years old, and the romper was a cheap buy from Shein. My original nice(ish) dress was a bit too wrinkly and didn’t store very well so I traded it out for a new buy at an H&M in Auckland once our travels had already started. Like I said earlier, this is a category where I wish I had packed more, or at least better-quality items that made me feel great. My H&M dress that I bought once my travels had started was much better, but I wish I would’ve just packed it from the get-go.

My go-to shops: Kohl’s, Shein, H&M

• 1 sun dress
• 1 nice dress
• 1 romper

Find similar items to mine on Amazon:

Underwear:

Listen ladies, you’re going to need underwear for every day of the week. I know all the boys can get 4 days out of one pair of underwear with the whole “backwards, frontwards, inside-out, turn them around!” nonsense, but that just ain’t gonna fly for us. Welcome to womanhood. Since my main pant of choice is leggings, I tend to prefer the non-show lined panties. They have some good ones from Target, but my absolute favs are from Fabletics! I also purchased 2 pairs of period-underwear to try and lessen my use of tampons. I got one pair from an online store called Ilova, and another from Target. The Ilova pair has a better no-show seam, but I honestly prefer the Target pair. They are smaller, more comfortable, easier to purchase, and seem to absorb just as well. They are also slim enough that I can wear them as regular underwear throughout the rest of the month as well as when I’m on my period.

Bring whatever underwear you feel the most comfortable in. I would recommend something you can really move around in and that will go with a multitude of different outfits for different activities.

For bras, I packed 5 (and lost one…) leaving me with 3 t-shirt bras, and one sports bra from Target. I had one other sports bra from Fabletics that was my favorite one that I of course lost. I haven’t necessarily needed to replace it, so you can get by with just 4, but I would’ve preferred 5.

Socks are another controversial pick. Most packing lists suggest just packing 2-3 pairs which is crazy to me! I packed 7 pairs: one for each day. I did lose one sock, so it brought my total pairs down to 6. It has so far been fine, but we are in summer here in New Zealand in March, so I am able to get away with wearing sandals and avoiding socks all together. We will see if 6 pairs suffice when the weather turns colder, and covered feet become essential. All six/seven pairs I have are from Darn Tough a fantastic company that makes quality socks from a merino wool blend for hiking, running, and to wear every day. If you get a hole or damage to a pair of socks at any time you can send them back and Dark Tough will replace them for free.

My go-to shops: Target, Fabletics, Dark Tough

• 6 pairs of no-show underwear
• 2 pairs of period underwear
• 3 t-shirt bras
• 1 sports bra (+1 lost sports bra)
• 6 pairs of socks (+1 pair of lost socks)

Find similar items to mine on Amazon:

Pajamas:

I had a pair of pajamas that I absolutely loved from Target. Unfortunately, I sent these to get washed by the hostel we were staying at, and they were completely lost. I had to replace them, but never found something quite as good. I recommend you get pajama pants with pockets! It’s useful when staying at hostels and carrying things from your room to the bathroom and back.

Originally, I had also packed a small robe, but decided to leave it at home last minute to save some precious space. Looking back, I wish I had brought it. The alternative when staying at a hostel is to either bring your pajamas/clothes into the shower area where they are in danger of getting wet, or to walk back to your room in just a towel. I thought using just a towel would be fine, but then I started working in a management position at the same hostel I lived in. It became awkward to walk around in a towel in front of guests as the “person in charge.” Maybe that’s just the Disney professionalism seeping out, but I would’ve preferred to have my robe.

My go-to shops: Target, and for replacement H&M

• 1 pair of pajamas

Find similar items to mine on Amazon:

Outerwear:

If traveling in a multitude of climates all year round it is important to plan with an array of outerwear items. I’ve opted for a cardigan for dresser occasions, a light jacket, a rain jacket, and a heavy down winter coat.

My cardigan I got on sale from H&M, and I treat it as an easy, comfy, choice when I want to be warm but not necessarily in athleisure wear. I went for a Patagonia jacket for slightly colder weather. I really liked the one I got at first, but I washed it maybe once a week and it did start to pill (small balls of fluff that form on the surface of knitted fabrics). It also collected smells easy meaning I HAD to wash it. The pilling does annoy me at times. In the future I think I would go for a North Face-style polyester jacket to avoid pilling and less washing.

Living in Florida was a perfect place to find a really good rain jacket. I went with a Kuhl branded long rain jacket, that included an adjustable hood, and folded up into its own pocket for storage. I’ve put this raincoat through the ringer using it during the summer in Florida, rainy season in Mexico, and during the worst flooding in Auckland’s history the first week in New Zealand. It has just started to lose some of its integrity becoming eventually saturated with water after an hour of extreme rain, whereas it used to hold up all day. It’s a winner overall, that needs a good re-waxing to be perfect.

My hardest buy was a good quality winter coat. I originally bought a lighter REI puff jacket that was plenty good for Florida’s “cold,” but when put to the test on a quick trip to New York found it wasn’t nearly warm enough. We were shopping at the beginning of summer which did not bode well for thick winter wear. Eventually, I returned my original buy and found a perfect thick and heavy winter coat from REI. This store is great because you can return any item up to a year after purchase. Use that knowledge as you will. It really came in handy after wearing a coat that was not warm enough but “used,” and being able to return it and buy something I could actually use instead of forcing my old jacket to work. This coat, while extremely puffy and insulated, compresses down nice and small in my bag. It didn’t come with its own bag, but I was able to fit it into the smallest size of packing cubes that I had.

I’ve also got a knit hat and an old pair of fabric gloves (we’ll see if those stay) from Target for the extra cold weather.

My go-to shops: H&M, REI, Target

Brands: Patagonia, North Face, Kuhl, REI

• Cardigan
• Patagonia jacket
• Kuhl compactable raincoat
• REI winter coat
• Knit hat
• Fabric gloves

Find similar items to mine on Amazon:

Shoes:

My biggest category of needing a complete overhaul was that of my shoe collection. All I had in terms of shoes were my work shoes, some old flimsy sandals, and a few pairs of nice shoes for going out. I decided for my travel shoes I needed to get durable, well-made, shoes that would be useful in different climates and for multiple activities. I decided on a pair of ON sneakers, Chaco’s sandals, flip-flops, and an old pair of flats for dressier occasions. I would like to get a pair of hiking boots or warmer shoes for winter too but have decided to wait until the winter months to purchase while traveling. I mean, UGG boots are way cheaper in Australia without the import fees!

I had previously liked the style of ON running shoes and thought they could be a good choice for a supportive active shoe, while still being stylish enough for daywear. I went to a local shoe store that specialized in running shoes to get my feet fitted and examined to find the best shape and support for me specifically. I already asked for ON shoes, so it did help to narrow down my options and ultimately come to my final choice.

For sandals I was looking for a hiking shoe that could double as a day shoe on warmer days, or as a beach shoe. I also wanted something that could be a backup in case my sneaker were to get wet, or to wear expecting them to get wet and be quick drying. I was between Teva and Chaco brands. Ultimately, I went with a pair of Chacos that are comfy and durable. Heads up: if you go with Chaco’s they don’t do half sizes. I first went a half size down, then after about 2-weeks exchanged them for a half size up instead.

For flip-flops I went with a cheap, replaceable pair from Target. Flip flops are useful mostly for questionable showers but are also handy to walk around the hostel in general, or if you need to quickly slip on some shoes and run an errand. I’ve already replaced my flip flops once after 3 months. Hey, if the replacements are cheap, it’s all good!

Finally, I packed an old, beat-up pair of black flats. These shoes I have if I need to dress up a bit, or if I go for a professional event. I’ve worn them a lot working the reception area at my job. They are so old that I wouldn’t be bothered if they fell apart and I needed to throw them out. And if I find a better pair to replace them along the way that works too!

My go-to shops: Target, REI, Track Shack (unique to Orlando, Florida, USA)

Brands: ON, Chaco

• On Cloudflyer Sneakers
• Chaco Hiking Sandals
• Flip-Flops
• Flats

Find similar items to mine on Amazon:

Additional Miscellaneous:

And to round out my collection a brought a ball cap repping the state of Florida. 2 pairs of polarized sunglasses, one extra in case a pair breaks, and make sure they’re polarized to protect your eyes. And 4 black face masks to protect yourself and others when feeling sick. Plus, I like to wear a mask on planes to protect from dry air especially when sleeping!

My go-to shops: Amazon, Target

• Ball cap
• 2 pair of sunglasses
• 4 face masks

Find similar items to mine on Amazon:

Clothing Master List:

That does it for all the wearables. Stay tuned for my next article featuring everything else I packed, and what I used to pack it in for our trip around the world! In the meantime, checkout Lawrence’s article on what he packed for a year of traveling around the world.